Should companies be allowed to patent living organisms like seeds and use those patents to monopolize food production globally?

A small farmer from Indiana named Vernon High Bowman is taking on the biotech giant Monsanto in a seed patent infringement case. Monsanto sells to farmers under a contract that requires the farmers to purchase new genetically engineered seeds each year. This means that they are prohibited from saving and replanting the next-generation seeds.

This is a very interesting resource that illustrates how the major energy sources are used in the US. It can be used to determine the impact that specific energy policies will have on the environment and the economy.

The President outlined some very exciting improvements to current environmental policies in the State of the Union address last night. What a great platform to demand change. And if the parties can’t come to common ground to implement the necessary policies then the White House has promised to act on it’s own accord. How exciting!

“If Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will,” Obama said. “I will direct my cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.”

Urban air pollution from fuel emissions has reached levels that are hazardous to physical health and mental development in Beijing. This is a global problem that requires a global solution to energy production. My goal is to get off the grid by producing renewable energy at home – I’m starting with a solar project! What are positive contribution do you plan to make?

Way to go San Francisco! The city diverts 80% of its waste from the landfill and should be at 100% (or more – yes that’s right) in the next few years. Every city should take a take a lesson from nature where nothing is wasted and implement the Cradle to Cradle program. Think of the possibilities!

A senior counsel at the National Wildlife Federation pointed out that the Keystone XL “locks us into quite a few years of increased development of tar sands, which scientists have pretty roundly said the world can’t afford. This is really a good opportunity early on in [Obama’s second term] to send a strong signal that he’s very serious about addressing climate.”

To enact successful reform, the White House needs to change it’s approach. This can be done by making it clear that regulation isn’t the ideal approach but the only one available, eliminate the need for certain climate initiatives by adopting emissions regulations, and elevate environmental initiatives that appeal to business more than green groups.